"The punishment is mild considering the crimes he committed against his homeland for over 30 years," he said, noting that the verdict will undoubtedly have an effect on the elections.

"The Egyptians will insist on electing a president that would renew the trial and avenge the blood of the martyrs," he said, warning of another revolution in Egypt,
following the sentencing.

Protesters demanding death sentence for Mubarak (Photo: Reuters)

Spokesperson of the Salafi al-Nur party, Mohammed Nur described the verdict as "an act of deception," claiming it "completely ignored the blood of the martyrs that was spilled a year and a half ago in Egypt.

"The verdict shows us that the former president is the one trying us, not the other way around. The verdict is strange, and is proof that we need to bring about a new revolution," he noted.

'One big charade'

Meanwhile, al Arabiya network reported that family members of those killed during the revolution gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square, demanding that Mubarak be handed a death sentence.

Some Egyptian commentators also expressed anger over the court's ruling: "In my opinion this entire thing was one big charade. They treated us with contempt and they think we don’t understand what is going on. How could it be that Mubarak's sons and the interior ministers' aides were acquitted? According to logic, if their minister was convicted, they should have been convicted as well," Egyptian journalist and political commentator Muhammad Ali Wazan told Ynet.

"Now those who have been acquitted can help those who are in prison," he noted, adding that Egypt has no other choice but to go back to Tahrir Square.

Muhammad Hindi, a media expert from Alexandria, told Ynet that he believes the last word has yet to be said. "May Allah save Egypt; the country will burn and there will be many issues with the trial," he predicted, adding that he understands the logic behind the judges' verdict.

"The true criminals were not apprehended, meaning those who actually murdered the protesters. Mubarak and el-Adli got their verdicts because they didn’t do a thing to prevent the killings," he said.